Locking mechanism for an agricultural implement



J. M. MARKEL July 24, 1956 LOCKING MECHANISM FOR AN AGRICULTURALIMPLEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Dec. 6, 1950 Juventor MHR'KEL2 JOHN M. 88 M g Gttomeg J. M. MARKEL 2,755,720

LOCKING MECHANISM FOR AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT July 24, 1956 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Dec. 6, 1950 do HN M- Mflkmn.

(Ittomeg U ited States Patent LOCKING MECHANISM FOR AN AGRICULTURALIIVIPLEMENT John M. Markel, Rockford, Ill., assignor to I. Qase Company,Racine, Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Original application December 6,1950, Serial No, 199,500,

now Patent No. 2,670,672, dated 'March 2,1954, D1- vided and thisapplication May 28, 1953, Serial No. 358,040

Claims. (Cl. 97-4661) This invention relates to improvements in theconstrnction and operation of fieldcultivators of the type having aplurality of cultivator rigs mounted adjacent one another on the frameof the machine and in such a manner that a strip of ground the width ofthe machine'maybe cultivated by means of earth working tools mountedonthe cultivator rigs.

This application is a division of the co-pending application of John M.Markel, Serial No. 199,500, filed December 6, 1950, for Field Tillers,now Patent No. 2,670,672, dated March 2, 1954.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve theoperation and construction of devices of this class.

it is a further object of this invention to provide a pressure operatedmeans operable from a tractor or other suitable propelling means formoving the earth-working tools of an implement that is trailinglyconnected to the tractor from an operative to a transport position. I

It is a further object of this invention to provide a mechanical latchfor holding the earth-working tools in transport position for permittingthe removal of the pressure operated means for use on other applicationsabout the farm.

Another object is to provide a' mechanical lateh'having means forreleasing the same when the force exerted thereupon reaches apredetermined value.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following description ofa preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a field tiller embodying the presentinvention, with parts removed, taken from in front and toward the rightside of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a right-side sectional elevation of the machine illustrated inFig. 1 showing the cultivator rigs raised" and locked in transportposition.

Fig. 3 is a right-side sectional elevation of certain dettils shown inFig. 2 showing the latch mechanism in an unlatched condition.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the safety feature of thelatch mechanism.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings it will be seen that thefield cultivator construction chosen to illustrate the principles of thepresent invention comprises a transversely disposed rectangular frame10, a draft means 11 which extends forwardly of the frame 10, cultivatorrigs 12 which are movably mounted on the frame it a pressure operatedmeans 13 for raising and lowering the rigs l2, and a latch means 14 forlocking or suspending the rigs 12 in a transparent or non-working;position for permitting removal of the pressure operated means 13.

The rectangular frame comprises front and rear transverse angle members15 and 16 which are secured together in spaced relationship bylongitudinal end angle members 17 and intermediate longitudinal anglemembers 18. The frame 10 is normally positioned in a forwardly 2,755,720Patented July 24, 1956 and downwardly inclined position and movablysupported in this position by means of transport wheels 19 and 20, thewheels 19 and 20 being rotatably supported-with respect to the frame 10by pairs of angular shaped wheel hangers or brackets 22 and 23respectively.

A suitable draft means 11 extends forwardly from the frame it) andcomprises a pair of forwardly extending members 24 and 25 suitablysecured rearwardly to the members 15 and 16 of the frame 10 and abifurcated member 26 secured-to. the members 24 and 25 by means of boltsor other suitable means 27 and 23. The bifurcated member 26 has theusual connection 29 adjacent the forward end thereof for attachment wtiha tractor or other suitable propelling means for trailingly positioningthe implement behind the tractor. A pair of members 31, which areconnected adja cent'ltheir rear end to the angle member 15 near thelateral'ends thereof, converge forwardly, and are secured adjacent theirforward ends by meansof the bolt 28 for bracing the member 26 and themembers 24 and 25.

The cultivator rigs 12 are pivotally mounted on the frame It) andcomprise a plurality of short rigs '32, a plurality of intermediate rigs33, and a plurality of long rigs 34. The rigs 32, 33, and 34 comprisedrawbtars'35, 36, and 37 respectively which are held in spaced relationadjacent their forward ends. The rear ends of the drawbars converge andsubstantially vertical tool standards 41, 42, and 43 respectively areconnected thereto. Cultivator shovels or tools, in the form of springteeth 44 in the present instance, are secured to the ends of the toolstandards 41, 42, and 43'by means of tool clamps 45 of any well known orsuitable construction and are positioned in earth engaging relationshipwith respect to the ground. The drawbars 35, 36, and 37 all extend tothe same Width, as well known in the art, which is desirable forincreasing the torsional rigidity of the rigs and for theready'connection of the rigs to the frame. The rigs are connected tobrackets '47 which are connected to the angle member 15 of the frame 10.The brackets are mounted in pairs in equally spaced relation along themember 15 and the drawbars 35, "36, and 37 are pivotally connectedbetween a pair of the brackets 47 by transverse bolts or the like 48.

The cultivator rigs are raised or lowered by means of the pressureoperated lifting means 13 carried by the frame 10 and operative from theoperators station on the tractor. From the rear of the frame 10' extendsa plurality of spaced brackets 49 for rotatably supporting a rock shaft50 in parallel relationship with respect to the tansvese angle member16. Lifting arms 51 are secured to the rock shaft 50 in alignment witheach of the cultivator rigs 32, 33, and 34, and links 52 connect thelifting arms 51 and the rigs 12. A spring 53 encricles each link 52 andis compressed against a collar 54 for serving as a pressing means forthe respective rigs 32, 33, and 34 as Well known in the art.

The pressure operated lifting means 13 includes in the present instancea hydraulic cylinder 55 of any well known type generally associated withfarm tractors and implements and has a cylindrical body 56 closed at oneend by a head 57 and at the other end by a head 53, a plunger or pistonand rod 59 slidable in the cylindrical body, fluid or pressure hoses orconduits 60 and 61 opening into opposite ends of the cylindrical bodyand connected to the hydraulic pressure source of the tractor, and alimit stop 62. The cylinder is supported forwardly by means of astandard 63 which is secured between the members 24 and 25 and thebifurcated member 26 by means of bolt 28 and braced against rotativemovement by means of a member 64 secured forwardly to the bifurcatedmember 26 by means of a bolt or the like 65. An opening 66 is formed inthe standard and an opening 67 is formed in the head 57 of the cylinderfor reception of a pin 68 when the openings are in alignment therebysupporting one end of the cylinder 55.

Rearwardly a standard 69 having substantially parallel members 70 issecured by means of bolts or the like 70 to the forwardly extendingmembers 24 and 25 adjacent the transverse member and is braced by meansof members 71 so as to position the standard substantially normal to theinclined plane of the frame 10, the members 71 being secured forwardlyby means of bolt 27. A rocking beam 72 is pivotally carried between themembers 70 by means of a pivot 73 for rocking substantially in afore-and-aft direction and is prevented from moving axially on the pivotby means of spacer sleeves 74. One end of the rocking beam 72 isconnectable to a clevis 75 on the piston rod 59 by means of a pin 76 anda lock pin or cotter 77. The other end of the rocking beam 72 isconnected to a pivot 78, carried between parallel and adjacent lift arms79, which are non-rotatably fixed to the rock shaft 50 by means of asuitable clamp 80 and bolts 81, by means of a link 82 so that uponactuation of the cylinder 55 the rocking beam 72 will be rocked in onedirection for turning the rock shaft.

To more specifically describe the operation of the lifting means supposethat the tools are positioned for working the ground and that theoperator desired to position the tools in transport position. Theoperator therefore by manipulation of well known hydraulic controlspositioned on the tractor near the operators station increases thepressure forwardly of the piston by way of hose 60 and releases thepressure rearwardly of the piston by way of hose 61 so as to expand orextend the piston rod 59. Upon extension of the piston rod 59, therocking beam 72 is rocked in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2, which inturn pulls upon link 82 and consequently rocks the rock shaft 50 in aclockwise direction, for lifting the rigs 12 into a transport position.When it is desired to lower the cultivator rigs 12, the pressure in thehydraulic cylinder upon further manipulation of the hydraulic controlson the tractor is reduced in the front of the piston through hose 60while the pressure in the rear of the piston is increased by pressurefrom the hose 61 thereby retracting the piston rod 59 into thecylindrical body 56. As the piston retracts, the rock shaft is forced ina counterclockwise direction by the weight of the cultivator rigs 12.This counterclockwise movement of the rock shaft is limited only by theresistance of the hydraulic cylinder exerted on the rocking beam 72.When the cultivator rigs are lowered so that the earth working toolsrest upon the ground, the ground supports the weight of the rigs and thepiston can be further retracted as already described, thereby moving therocking beam 72 counterclockwise and forcing the tools into the earththe desired distance.

It will be apparent that an exceedingly convenient means has beenprovided for raising and lowering the cultivator rigs. Various wellknown hydraulic controls are contemplated as adaptable for theconstruction, some of which give accurate control of the position of thepiston within the cylindrical portion 56. With such devices the depth ofcultivating is readily controlled by merely manipulating the hydrauliccontrols on the tractor so as to hold the piston in the positionnecessary to maintain the cultivating depth. Other hydraulic systemsoperate in such a manner as to move the piston to the limit of itstravel in one direction or the other. This type of system is equallyadaptable, an example being seen in Fig. 2.

The above mentioned limit stop 62 is slidable on a rod 84 fixed inrelation to the head 58 and may be locked in various positions thereonby means of a pin 85 engaged therewith and with one or the other ofholes 86 formed in the rod 84. Clevis 75, upon movement forwardly, willencounter stop 62 after predetermined movement, the amount of movementbeing determined by the position selected for stop 62. As will beapparent, various positions of stop 62 will result in various positionsof rocking beam 72 when the clevis 75 is against the stop 62and thiswill result in various positions of the tools with respect to theground. Since the cultivating depth is dependent upon the position ofthe rock shaft and consequently upon the position of the rocking beam72, any selected cultivating depth can be reached immediately by simplyactuating the hydraulic mechanism to bring the clevis 75 against thestop 62 in whatever position has been selected for the latter. It willbe appreciated that the cultivating depth will consequently always bethe same and no attention need be paid the rigs 12 when lowering theminto working position.

The latch means 14 is provided for mechanically holding the rigs 12 inraised or transport position for permitting the removal of the hydrauliccylinder 55 for use on other applications about the farm as previouslysuggested. The latch means includes, in the present instance, a latch 87pivotally secured in the present instance to the pivot 78 adjacent thelink 82 for substantially fore-and-aft swinging movement (see also Figs.3 and 4). Adjacent the other end of the latch 87 is pivotally secured bymeans of a bolt or other suitable means 88, a latch stop 89 providedwith a lip 90 for being pressed or abutted against the rear transversemember 16 when the rigs 12 are held in transport position as will beexplained presently. The latch stop 89 is provided in the presentinstance with a slot or slipway 91 which is accommodated by a bolt 92secured to the latch 87 so as to hold the latch stop longitudinallyadjacent the latch 87.

During operation of the tiller, the latch stop 87 is swung rearwardly,dotted lines in Fig. 3, so as to be out of the way or out of contactwith the rear transverse frame member 16 when the rigs 12 are raised orlowered in normal use. If the operator decides to place the machine instorage or transport the machine with the cylinder 55 removed therefrom,he has merely to swing the latch 87 forwardly so that the latch stop 89is in frictional contact with the frame member 16, raise the rigs 12until the lip 90 of the latch stop 89 falls into place with respect tothe undersurface of the frame member 16, and then allow the rigs 12 tobias the rock shaft 50 counterclockwise until the lip 90 of the latchstop 89 comes in contact with the frame member 16. The force exerted bythe weight of the rigs 12 and their accompanying earth working toolstending to bias the rock shaft counterclockwise is suflicient to retainthe latch stop 89 pressed against the frame member 16 but not sufficientto release or pivot the latch stop about the bolt 88 through the slot orslip- Way 91 from the bolt 92. With the rock shaft held thus againstrotation, the hydraulic cylinder can be removed and the tillertransported or placed in storage. To place the tiller into an operativecondition requires merely that the cylinder 55 be secured between therocking beam 72 and the standard 63 as previously described. Thecylinder should then be expanded so as to rotate the rock shaftsufiiciently in a clockwise direction to relieve the tension exerted onthe latch stop 89. The latch 87 is then swung rearwardly so as to be outof the way of the frame member 16 during subsequent movement of the rigs12. If the operator attempts to lower the rigs 12 immediately withoutfirst relieving the tension exerted on the latch stop 89 and thenswinging the latch 87 rearwardly, the latch stop 89 will release throughthe slipway 91 from the latch 87 and the bolt 92 so as to be pivoteddownwardly and consequently be released from the member 16 without anydamage being done, the force exerted by the cylinder 55 plus the forceexerted by the weight of the cultivator rigs 12 tending to bias the rockshaft 50 counterclockwise being sufiicient to overcome the force exertedby the bolt 92 tending to prevent pivotal movement of the latch stop 89about bolt 88.

For permitting the hydraulic cylinder 55 to be connected between therocking beam 72 and the standard 63 in an extended, partially extended,or fully retracted condition, the link 82 is formed, in the presentinstance of members 93 and 94 pivotally connected by means of a bolt or"other suitable means 95 and held in rigid longitudinal alignment bymeans of a removable pin or the like 96 it being recognized thattherelationship between the members 93 and 94 is that of a toggle-joint.The member 94 in the present instance is provided a stop 97 which uponremoval of the pin 96 abuts against the member 93 for preventingdownward buckling of the members 93 and 94 while permitting the members93 and 94 to buckle upwardly so that the member 94 can be swung inaclockwise direction, Fig.2. In operation the cylinder 55 is connected tothe standard 63 by means of pin 68 in a manner already described. Theoperator then by supporting the cylinder 55 with one hand can remove thepin 96 with his other hand and swing" the member 94 in a clockwisedirection about the bolt 95 so as to buckle the members 93 and 94upwardly. Swinging movement of the member 94 in a clockwise directionwill initiate a swinging movement of the rocking beam 72 in acounterclockwise direction, the amount of swinging movement initiated tothe rocking beam depending upon whether the cylinder is retracted,partially extended, or fully extended. With the rocking beam thus freeto swing in a counterclockwise direction the operator therefore swingsthe rocking beam sufficiently to allow the pin 76 to secure the clevis75 thereto. Then upon extension of the rod 59 by means of the hydrauliccontrols on the tractor in a manner as already described, the rockingbeam 72 is swung in a clockwise direction which in turn moves the member94 in a counterclockwise direction so as to buckle the toggle-jointdownwardly, until the stop 97 abuts againsts the member 93. With themembers 93 and 94 thereby in longitudinal alignment, the pin 96 can bereinserted and the member 94 is in locked longitudinal relationship withrespect to member 93.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferredembodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changesin the details of construction and combination and arrangement of partsmay be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed.

1 claim:

1. In a safety latch for use with an implement having a frame, groundengaging supporting elements on the frame, a portion carried on theframe and adapted to be lifted, an oscillatable lever supported on theframe, and link means extending between the lever and said portion;power actuated mechanism for oscillating the lever, means for lockingthe lever in one position independently of said mechanism whereby saidmechanism may be removed including the combination of a rock shaftmovable with said lever, an arm on the rock shaft immovably fixedthereto, a link pivoted to the arm transversely thereof at a pointspaced from said rock shaft, an achorage spaced from said rock shaft inthe direction of said link, a detent on said link and having ananchorage engaging portion spaced from the pivotal connection betweensaid arm and said link and means fixing said anchorage engaging portionto said link and yieldable under abormal stress caused by inadvertentactuation of said mechanism to provide for movement of said anchorageengaging portion relatively to said link into a position to disengagefrom said anchorage and relieve such abnormal stress.

2. In an implement of the type having a frame, ground engagingsupporting elements on the frame, a portion carried on the frame andadapted to be lifted, an oscillatable lever supported on the frame andlink means extending between the lever and said portion; means foroscillating the lever, including a rock shaft movable with said lever,an arm fixed on the rockshaft so as to be rockable therewith, poweractuated mechanism disengageably connected with said lever, and meansproviding for removal of said power actuated mechanism including a linkpivoted on said arm transversely thereof at a point spaced from saidrock shaft, an anchorage spaced from said rock shaft in the direction ofsaid link,

a detent on-said link and having an anchorage engaging portion spacedfro m'the pivotal connection of said arm and said link for engaging saidanchorage and thereby locking saidarrn andlsaid rock shaft againstmovement so thatsaid poweractuated mechanism may be removed, andim eansfixing said anchorage engaging portion to said'link and yieldableunder'stresscaused by inadvertent actuatioir of said p ower actuatedmechanism to provide foi mev'e'm'em' r said anchorage engaging portionrelatively to: said linkinto' a position to disengage from saidanchorage and relieve such abnormal stress.

3. In an implement ofthe' type having a frame, ground engagingsupporting elements on the frame, a portion carried on the frameandadapted to be lifted, an oscillatable lever supported" onthe frameand link means extending betw een the level-and said portion biasingsaid lever toward rotation inone direction by reason of the weight ofsaid portion; means for oscillating the lever, including a rock shaftmovable with said lever, an arm fixed on the rock shaft so as to berockable therewith, power actuated mechanism disengageably connectedwith said rock shaft and arranged to maintain it against rotation as aresult of said biasing of said lever and to overcome such bias androtate said rockshaft in a direction opposite to said bias for raisingsaid portion adapted to be lifted, and means providing for removal ofsaid power actuated mechanism while preventing rotation of said rockshaft including a link pivoted on said arm transversely thereof at apoint spaced from said rock shaft, an anchorage spaced from said rockshaft in the direction of said link, a detent on said link and having ananchorage engaging portion spaced from the pivotal conection of said armand said link for engaging said anchorage and thereby locking said armand said rock shaft against movement so that said power actuatedmechanism may be removed without consequent rotation of said rock shaft,and means fixing said anchorage engaging portion to said link andyieldable under stress caused by inadvertent actuation of said poweractuated mechanism to provide for movement of said anchorage engagingportion relatively to said link into a position to disengage from saidanchorage and relieve such abnormal stress.

4. In an implement of the type having a frame, ground engagingsupporting elements on the frame, a portion carried on the frame andadapted to be lifted, means for lifting said portion including a rockshaft and connections extended therefrom to said portion for liftingsaid portion by reason of rocking of said shaft in one direction, andtending, by reason of the weight of said portion to bias said shafttoward rotation in the other direction, arm means fixed on the rockshaft so as to be rockable therewith, power actuated mechanismdisengageably connected with said arm means, and expedients providingfor removal of said power actuated mechanism including a link pivoted onsaid arm means transversely thereof at a point spaced from said rockshaft, an anchorage spaced from said rock shaft in the direction of saidlink, a detent on said link and having an anchorage engaging portionspaced from the pivotal connection of said arm means and said link forengaging said anchorage and thereby locking said arm means and said rockshaft against movement by reason of said bias so that said poweractuated mechanism may be removed, and means fixing said anchorageengaging portion to said link and yieldable under stress caused byinadvertent actuation of said power actuated mechanism to provide formovement of said anchorage engaging portion relatively to said link intoa position to disengage from said anchorage and relieve such abnormalstress.

5. In an implement of the type having a frame, ground engagingsupporting elements on the frame, a portion carried on the frame andadapted to be lifted, an oscillatable lever supported on the frame andlink means extending between the lever and said portion; means foroscillating the lever, including a rock shaft movable with'said lever,an armfixed on the rock shaft so as to be rockable therewith, poweractuated mechanism disengageably, connected with said rock shaft, andmeans providing for removal of said power actuated mechanism including alikn pivoted on said arm transversely thereof at a point spaced fromsaid rock shaft, an anchorage spaced from said rock shaft in thedirection of said link, a 'detent pivotally mounted on said link andhaving an anchorage engaging portion spaced from the pivotal connectionof said arm and said link for engaging said anchorage and therebylocking said arm and said rock shaft against movement so that said poweractuated mechanism may be removed and means including a slipway spacedfrom the pivotal mounting of said detent on said link and having a boltengaged therewith fixing said detent to said 5 from said anchorage andrelieve such abnormal stress.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 73,166Cox et a1. Jan. 7, 1868 1,127,441 Ten Hoope Feb. 9, 1915 1,253,961Grimsrud Jan. 15, 1918 1,289,571 Studebaker Dec. 31, 1918 1,581,467Mueller Apr. 20, 1926 2,096,230 Elliott Oct. 19, 1937 Markel Mar. 2,1954

